Up for the battle: Sandro, Younes Kaboul and Paulinho all featured in the friendly against West Ham on Thursday

On target: Lewis Holtby congratulates Harry Kane after the youngster scored against West Ham

But it was the fitness improvement of the vital trio, alongside Younes Kaboul, that will please manager Tim Sherwood, whose side are level on points with fourth-placed Liverpool and six behind Chelsea.

The Brazilian pairing of Paulinho and Sandro offer brute force and finesse in equal measure in the middle of the park.

Sandro has been out for six weeks with a calf problem while his international partner suffered at the hands of Stoke's Charlie Adam on December 29 and has been nursing ankle ligament damage.

Heads, you win: Kane scored a brace against West Ham

Boost: Tim Sherwood now has three key players back in action for a huge two months for Spurs

Taking time: Sandro hasn't played since December 15 and got through 45 minutes at West Ham

The late tackle from Adam lead to outrage from within White Hart Lane at the time, although the player himself insisted that he would never intentionally hurt a fellow professional.

Paulinho, alongside Kaboul and Vertonghen, got through an hour for Spurs against the Hammers and hopes to be ready for next week's visit of Manchester City.

And the injured quartet couldn't be coming back at a better time for Sherwood.

Netter: Young striker Harry Kane helped his cause by scoring twice in the friendly

While Tottenham will have enjoyed ten days off between their win at Swansea and City on Wednesday, the race for a top four spot and to the latter stages of the Europa League intensifies as February hits.

Spurs gives games next month - including a trip to Dnipro in Ukraine - and will need to call upon every corner of his squad to cope.

If they were to reach the last 16 in Europe, Sherwood faces seven games in March. The next round on the continent would be against either Benfica or PAOK.